பொங்கல் பண்டிகை: சிறப்பு ரயில்கள் அறிவிப்பு

By DIN | Published on : 08th January 2020 01:41 AM


ரயில்வே துறை

பொங்கல் பண்டிகையையொட்டி, சொந்த ஊருக்குச் செல்லும் பயணிகள் வசதிக்காக சென்னையில் இருந்து திருச்சி, திருநெல்வேலிக்கு சிறப்பு ரயில்கள் இயக்கப்படுமென அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

சென்னை-திருநெல்வேலி: சென்னை எழும்பூரில் இருந்து ஜனவரி 10-ஆம் தேதி மாலை 6.50 மணிக்கு புறப்படும் சிறப்புக் கட்டண ரயில் (82601) , மறுநாள் காலை 6 மணிக்கு திருநெல்வேலி சென்றடையும்.

திருநெல்வேலி-தாம்பரம்: திருநெல்வேலியில் இருந்து ஜனவரி 11-ஆம் தேதி மாலை 6.15 மணிக்கு புறப்படும் சிறப்புக் கட்டண ரயில் (06002) , மறுநாள் அதிகாலை 5 மணிக்கு தாம்பரம் வந்து சேரும்.

தாம்பரம்-திருநெல்வேலி இடையே சிறப்பு ரயில்: தாம்பரத்தில் இருந்து ஜனவரி 12-ஆம் தேதி இரவு 7.20 மணிக்கு புறப்படும் சுவிதா சிறப்பு ரயில்(82603), மறுநாள் காலை 6 மணிக்கு திருநெல்வேலி சென்றடையும். திருநெல்வேலியில் இருந்து ஜனவரி 18-ஆம் தேதி மாலை 6.15 மணிக்கு புறப்படும் சுவிதா சிறப்பு ரயில் (82604) , மறுநாள் அதிகாலை 5 மணிக்கு தாம்பரத்தை வந்து சேரும்.

நாகா்கோவில்-தாம்பரம்: நாகா்கோவிலில் இருந்து ஜனவரி 19-ஆம் தேதி மாலை 5 மணிக்கு புறப்படும் சுவிதா சிறப்பு ரயில்(82606), மறுநாள் அதிகாலை 5 மணிக்கு தாம்பரத்தை வந்தடையும்.

தாம்பரம்-நாகா்கோவில்: தாம்பரத்தில் இருந்து ஜனவரி 20-ஆம் தேதி முற்பகல் 11.20 மணிக்கு புறப்படும் சிறப்புக் கட்டண ரயில்(06075), மறுநாள் அதிகாலை 2 மணிக்கு நாகா்கோவிலை சென்றடையும்.

திருச்சி-சென்னை: திருச்சியில் இருந்து ஜனவரி 11-ஆம் தேதி பிற்பகல் 2.30 மணிக்கு புறப்படும் சிறப்புக் கட்டண ரயில்(06026), அதேநாள் இரவு 8.15 மணிக்கு சென்னை எழும்பூா் வந்து சேரும்.

இதுதவிர, சென்னை-திருநெல்வேலி, தாம்பரம்-நாகா்கோவில், நாகா்கோவில்-திருச்சிக்கு சுவிதா சிறப்பு ரயில்கள் இயக்கப்படவுள்ளன. பொங்கல் சிறப்பு ரயில்களுக்கான டிக்கெட் முன்பதிவு புதன்கிழமை (ஜன.8) காலை 8 மணிக்கு தொடங்கும் என தெற்கு ரயில்வே தகவல் தெரிவித்துள்ளது.

அரசு ஊழியர்களுக்கு பொங்கல் போனஸ்

Added : ஜன 07, 2020 23:24


சென்னை : அரசின், 'சி, டி' பிரிவு பணியாளர்களுக்கு, 3,000 ரூபாய் பொங்கல் போனஸ் வழங்க, தமிழக அரசு உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது.

முறையான காலமுறை சம்பளம் பெறும், அனைத்து, 'சி, டி' பிரிவு அரசு பணியாளர்கள், உள்ளாட்சி பணியாளர்கள்.மேலும், அரசு மானியம் பெறும், கல்வி நிறுவனங்களில் பணிபுரியும் பணியாளர்கள் ஆகியோருக்கு, உச்சவரம்பாக, 3,000 ரூபாய் போனஸ் வழங்க, அரசு உத்தரவிட்டு உள்ளது.கடந்த, 2018 ஏப்ரல், 1 முதல், 2019 மார்ச், 3 வரை, ஓராண்டு முழுவதும் பணிபுரிந்து, தற்போது பணியில் உள்ள பணியாளர்கள் அனைவரும், தற்காலிக மிகை ஊதியத்தொகை முழுவதையும் பெற தகுதியுடையவர்கள்.

மாத அடிப்படையில், நிலையான ஊதியம் பெற்று வந்த பணியாளர்கள், சத்துணவு பணியாளர்கள், அங்கன்வாடி பணியாளர்கள், குறு அங்கன்வாடி பணியாளர்கள், கிராம உதவியாளர்கள் மற்றும் தினக்கூலி அடிப்படையில் பணியாற்றுவோருக்கு, சிறப்பு தற்காலிக மிகை ஊதியமாக, 1,000 ரூபாய் வழங்கப்படும்.ஓய்வு பெற்றவர்களில், 'சி, டி' பிரிவு பணியாளர்கள், கிராம அலுவலர்கள், கிராம உதவியாளர்கள், சத்துணவு அமைப்பாளர்கள், அங்கன்வாடிப் பணியாளர்கள், உதவியாளர்கள்.

மற்றும் ஊராட்சி செயலர்கள், கிராம நுாலகர்கள், துப்புரவுப் பணியாளர்கள், வேட்டை தடுப்பு காவலர்கள் போன்றோருக்கு, பொங்கல் பரிசுத் தொகையாக, 500 ரூபாய் வழங்கப்படும் என, தமிழக அரசு அறிவித்துள்ளது. இதற்கான அரசாணைகளும் வெளியிடப் பட்டுள்ளன.

7 மாதம் செயற்கை சுவாசம் அளித்து சிறுவனை மீட்ட அரசு டாக்டர்கள்

Added : ஜன 08, 2020 00:22

மதுரை : அரிய நோயால் பாதிக்கப்பட்ட சிறுவனுக்கு, ஏழு மாதங்கள் செயற்கை சுவாசம் அளித்து, மதுரை அரசு மருத்துவமனை காப்பாற்றியுள்ளது.

மதுரை, பசுமலையைச் சேர்ந்தவர் ராமமூர்த்தி. இவரது, இரண்டரை வயது மகன், கை, கால் மற்றும் உடலின் அனைத்து தசைகளும் பலம் இழந்த நிலையில், மே மாதம், மதுரை அரசு மருத்துவமனையில் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டான்.டாக்டர்கள் பரிசோதனையில், தசைகளை வலு இழக்கச் செய்யும், 'குல்லியன் பாரி சிண்ட்ரோம்' எனும் நோய், சிறுவனை பாதித்து இருப்பது தெரிந்தது. 'இம்முனோகுளோபுலின், மீத்தைல் பிரட்னிசலோன்' போன்ற விலையுர்ந்த மாத்திரைகள் வழங்கப்பட்டன.இதற்கிடையே, நோயால், சுவாசிக்கும் திறன் பாதிக்கப்பட்டு, சிறுவனுக்கு செயற்கை சுவாசக் கருவி உதவியுடன் சிகிச்சை அளிக்கப்பட்டது.

சுவாசத் தொற்றுக்கான விலை உயர்ந்த ஆன்டிபயாடிக் மருந்துகள் கொடுக்கப்பட்டன. டியூப் மூலம், மூக்கு வழியாக உணவு அளிக்கப்பட்டது. 'பிசியோதெரபி' பயிற்சியும் வழங்கப்பட்டது.இப்படி, ஏழு மாதங்கள் செயற்கை சுவாசம் தொடர்ந்தது. உடல் நலனில் முன்னேற்றம் இருந்ததால், டிசம்பரில் படிப்படியாக செயற்கை சுவாசம் அளிப்பது நிறுத்தப்பட்டது.தற்போது, சிறுவனால் தானாக சுவாசிக்க, உணவு உட்கொள்ள, நடக்க முடிகிறது. இரண்டரை வயது சிறுவனுக்கு இத்தனை மாதங்கள் செயற்கை சுவாசம் அளிக்கப்படுவது மிகவும் அரிதானது.

சிகிச்சை அளித்த பல்வேறு துறைகளின் டாக்டர்களை, டீன் சங்குமணி பாராட்டினார்.ரூ.1.5 கோடி சிகிச்சை இலவசம்அரிய நோயால் பாதிக்கப்பட்ட சிறுவன், நல்ல நிலைக்கு திரும்பி, வீட்டிற்கு செல்ல தயாராகி விட்டான். ஏழு மாதங்கள், செயற்கை சுவாசம் அளிக்கப்பட்டது, தென் மாநிலங்களிலேயே இதுதான் முதல் முறை. இச்சிகிச்சையை தனியார் மருத்துவமனையில் மேற்கொண்டிருந்தால், 1.50 கோடி ரூபாய் செலவாகி இருக்கும். ஆனால், முதல்வரின் காப்பீட்டு திட்டத்தில், சிறுவனுக்கு இலவசமாக மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டது.சங்குமணி, டீன், மதுரை அரசு மருத்துவமனை.

ரேஷன் கடைகளில் போலீஸ் பாதுகாப்பு

Added : ஜன 07, 2020 23:35

சென்னை : ரேஷன் கடைகளில், நாளை முதல், 1,000 ரூபாய் அடங்கிய, பொங்கல் பரிசு வழங்க உள்ளதால், கூட்ட நெரிசல் ஏற்படாமல் இருக்க, உணவுத் துறை சார்பில், போலீசாரிடம் பாதுகாப்பு கோரப்பட்டு உள்ளது.

தமிழக ரேஷன் கடைகளில், 2 கோடி அரிசி கார்டுதாரர்களுக்கு, தலா, ஒரு கிலோ பச்சரிசி, சர்க்கரை; தலா, 20 கிராம் முந்திரி, திராட்சை; ஐந்து கிராம் ஏலம், கரும்பு, 1,000 ரொக்கம் அடங்கிய பொங்கல் பரிசு வழங்கப்பட உள்ளது. இதற்கான அறிவிப்பு, 2019 நவம்பரில் வெளியான நிலையில், நாளை முதல், ரேஷன் கடைகளில், பொங்கல் பரிசு வழங்கப்பட உள்ளது. பொங்கலுக்கு, ஒரு வாரமே உள்ளதால், பலரும் சொந்த ஊர் செல்ல ஆயத்தமாகி வருகின்றனர். இந்நிலையில், நாளை காலை, ரேஷன் கடைகள் திறந்ததும், பொங்கல் பரிசு வாங்க வேண்டும் என்ற எண்ணத்தில், அதிகம் பேர் திரள வாய்ப்புள்ளது.

இதனால், கூட்ட நெரிசலால், மக்கள் சிரமப்படும் சூழல் ஏற்படலாம். இதை தவிர்க்கவும், சட்டம் ஒழுங்கு பிரச்னைகள் ஏற்படாமல் இருக்கவும், உணவுத்துறை சார்பில், ரேஷன் கடைகளுக்கு, போலீஸ் பாதுகாப்பு கோரப்பட்டு உள்ளது. மேலும், ஒவ்வொரு கடையிலும், 9, 10, 11, 12ம் தேதி வரை, எந்தெந்த தினத்தில், எத்தனை கார்டுதாரர்களுக்கு, பொங்கல் பரிசு வழங்கப்பட உள்ளது என்ற விபரம், கடைகள் முன் ஒட்டப்பட்டு உள்ளது.இதனால், கார்டுதாரர்கள், தங்கள் வரிசை எண் உள்ள தேதிக்கு சென்று, பொங்கல் பரிசை பெற்று கொள்ளலாம்.

'நிர்பயா' வழக்கு கடந்து வந்த பாதை

Added : ஜன 08, 2020 00:18

டிச., 16, 2012: டில்லியில், மருத்துவ மாணவி, 'நிர்பயா' ஓடும் பஸ்சில், ஆறு பேர் கொண்ட கும்பலால் பாலியல் பலாத்காரம் செய்யப்பட்டு, பஸ்சில் இருந்து துாக்கி வீசப்பட்டார். அவருடைய நண்பரும் தாக்கப்பட்டார்.

டிச., 17: டில்லி, சப்தர்ஜங் மருத்துவமனையில் நிர்பயா சேர்ப்பு. பஸ் டிரைவர் ராம் சிங், அவர் சகோதரர் முகேஷ் சிங் ராஜஸ்தானில் கைது. வினய் சர்மா, பவன் குப்தா, ஒரு சிறுவன் டில்லியில் கைது. அக் ஷய் குமார் சிங், அவுரங்காபாத்தில் கைது.டிச., 21: சப்தர்ஜங் மருத்துவமனையில் மாஜிஸ்திரேட்டிடம், 'நிர்பயா' வாக்குமூலம்.டிச., 26: குற்றவாளிகளை துாக்கிலிட வலியுறுத்தி நாடு முழுவதும் போராட்டம்.டிச., 27: 'நிர்பயா' மேல் சிகிச்சைக்காக சிங்கப்பூர் மவுன்ட் எலிசபெத் மருத்துவமனைக்கு கொண்டு செல்லப்பட்டார்.டிச., 29: சிகிச்சை பலனின்றி, அதிகாலை, 2:15 மணிக்கு உயிரிழந்தார். பாலியல் குற்றங்களுக்கு கடுமையான தண்டனை வழங்கும் சட்டம் பார்லிமென்டில் தாக்கல்.

ஜன., 3, 2013: பாலியல் பலாத்காரம், கொலை, கடத்தல், ஆவணங்களை அழித்தல் ஆகிய பிரிவுகளில், ஐந்து குற்றவாளிகள் மீது வழக்குப் பதிவு. ஆறு பேரில் மைனர் குற்றவாளி வழக்கு மட்டும் சிறுவர் கோர்ட்டுக்கு மாற்றம்.ஜன., 17: டில்லி, சாகேட் விரைவு கோர்ட்டில் விசாரணை துவங்கியது.மார்ச், 11: திகார் சிறையில் அடைக்கப்பட்டிருந்த முக்கிய குற்றவாளியான ராம் சிங் துாக்கிட்டு தற்கொலை. மற்ற ஐந்து பேர் மீதான விசாரணை தொடர்ந்தது.ஆக., 31: குற்றம் நிரூபிக்கப்பட்ட மைனர் குற்றவாளிக்கு மூன்று ஆண்டு சிறை தண்டனை.

செப்., 10: குற்றம் சாட்டப்பட்ட நான்கு பேரும் குற்றவாளிகள் என நீதிமன்றம் தீர்ப்பு. 13 பிரிவுகளில் இவர்களது குற்றம் நிரூபிக்கப்பட்டது.செப்., 13: நால்வருக்கும் மரண தண்டனை வழங்கி சிறப்பு நீதிமன்றம் தீர்ப்பு.ஜன., 3, 2014: சிறப்பு நீதிமன்றத்தின் தீர்ப்பை உறுதி செய்தது டில்லி உயர் நீதிமன்றம். ஜூன், 2: குற்றவாளிகள் இருவர் இத்தீர்ப்பை எதிர்த்து உச்ச நீதிமன்றத்தில் மேல்முறையீடு.ஜூலை, 14: குற்றவாளிகளின் துாக்கு தண்டனைக்கு இடைக்கால தடை.டிசம்பர், 2015: மைனர் குற்றவாளியை விடுவிக்கக் கூடாது என பா.ஜ.,வின் சுப்பிரமணியன் சாமி டில்லி உயர் நீதிமன்றத்தில் மனு.

டிச., 18: இம்மனுவை டில்லி நீதிமன்றம் தள்ளுபடி செய்தது.டிச., 20: மூன்று ஆண்டு சிறை தண்டனை முடிந்ததால், மைனர் குற்றவாளி விடுதலை.ஏப்., 3, 2016: உச்ச நீதிமன்றத்தில் விசாரணை துவக்கம்.மே, 5, 2017: நான்கு பேருக்கும் (அக் ஷய் குமார் சிங், வினய் சர்மா, பவன் குப்தா, முகேஷ் சிங்) மரண தண்டனை விதித்த டில்லி உயர் நீதிமன்றம் தீர்ப்பை, உச்சநீதிமன்றம் உறுதி செய்தது.நவ., 13: தீர்ப்பை எதிர்த்து, அக் ஷய் குமார் சிங்கை தவிர மற்ற மூவரும் உச்ச நீதிமன்றத்தில் மறுசீராய்வு மனு. ஜூலை, 9: சீராய்வு மனுவை உச்சநீதிமன்றம் தள்ளுபடி செய்தது. அக்., 29, 2019: கருணை மனு தாக்கல் செய்ய குற்றவாளிகளுக்கு, ஏழு நாள் காலக்கெடுவை திஹார் ஜெயில் நிர்வாகம் விதித்தது.

நவ., 8: டில்லி அரசிடம், வினய் சர்மா கருணை மனு. நவ., 30: இதனை தள்ளுபடி செய்த டில்லி உள்துறை அமைச்சர், டில்லி துணைநிலை கவர்னருக்கு மாற்றினார். டிச., 2: கவர்னரும் மனுவை தள்ளுபடி செய்து, டில்லி அரசு முடிவெடுக்க அனுமதி. டிச., 6: கருணை மனுவை உள்துறை அமைச்சகம் ஜனாதிபதிக்கு மாற்றியது. மனுவை தள்ளுபடி செய்ய, டில்லி அரசு பரிந்துரை. டிச., 10: அக் ஷய் குமார் சிங் உச்சநீதிமன்றத்தில் மறுசீராய்வு மனு. டிச., 18: மனுவை தள்ளுபடி செய்த உச்ச நீதிமன்றம், மூன்று வாரங்களுக்குள் ஜனாதிபதிக்கு கருணை மனு தாக்கல் செய்ய, உத்தரவு.

ஜன., 7, 2020: நான்கு குற்றவாளிகளையும், ஜனவரி, 22, காலை, 7:00 மணிக்கு துாக்கிலிட, திஹார் ஜெயில் நிர்வாகத்துக்கு, டில்லி நீதிமன்றம், 'நோட்டீஸ்!'

தர்பார் படத்துக்கு ஹெலிகாப்டரில் மலர்; அரசு அனுமதி மறுப்பு

Added : ஜன 07, 2020 21:06

சென்னை : ரஜினியின் 'தர்பார்' படம் வெளியாகும் போது தியேட்டர் முன் ஹெலிகாப்டரில் மலர் துாவ அரசு அனுமதி மறுத்துள்ளது.

ரஜினி நடித்த 'தர்பார்' படம் வரும் 9ம் தேதி வெளியாகிறது. உலகம் முழுக்க அதிக தியேட்டரில் 'ரிலீஸ்' செய்ய படத் தயாரிப்பு நிறுவனமான லைக்கா முடிவு செய்துள்ளது. இந்நிலையில் சேலத்தை சேர்ந்த கனகராஜ் என்பவர், படம் வெளியாகும் தேதியில் தியேட்டர் முன் ஹெலிகாப்டரில் மலர் தூவ எண்ணி, அரசிடம் அனுமதி கேட்டு மனு அளித்துள்ளார். இதனையொட்டி மாவட்ட நிர்வாகம் இதற்கு அனுமதி தர மறுப்பு தெரிவித்துள்ளது. தியேட்டர் அமைந்த இடம் நகரின் முக்கிய பகுதி என்பதால் அவரின் கோரிக்கை நிராகரிக்கப்பட்டதாக கூறப்பட்டது.

திஹாரில் தூக்கு தண்டனை ஒத்திகை

Added : ஜன 08, 2020 05:02



புதுடில்லி: 'நிர்பயா வழக்கு, குற்றவாளிகள் நான்கு பேருக்கு, வரும், 22ம் தேதி, காலை 7:00 மணிக்கு, டில்லி திஹார் சிறையில், துாக்கு தண்டனை நிறைவேற்றப்படும்' என, டில்லி நீதிமன்றம் நேற்று தீர்ப்பளித்தது. குற்றவாளிகளில் மூன்று பேர், திஹார் சிறையின் சிறை எண் - 2லும், ஒருவர் மட்டும் சிறை எண் - 4லிலும் அடைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளனர். அவர்கள் நால்வரும், வரும், 22ம் தேதியன்று, சிறை எண் - 2ல் துாக்கிலிடப்படுவர்.

இந்நிலையில் குற்றவாளிகளை தூக்கிலிடுவதற்கான ஒத்திகை இன்று திஹார் சிறையில் நடத்த உள்ளதாக கூறப்படுகிறது. உ.பி.மாநிலம் மீரட்டை சேர்ந்த சிறை காவலர் இதற்கான ஒத்திகையை நடத்திட உள்ளார்.

அப்போது காவல்துறை கண்காணிப்பாளர், துணை கண்காணிப்பாளர், மாவட்ட கலெக்டர், கலெக்டர் வர இயவில்லை என்றால், துணை கலெக்டர், அரசு மருத்துவர் குழுவினர் இந்த ஒத்திகை நிகழ்ச்சியில் பங்கேற்கின்றனர்.

Little boy with muscle paralysis, breathing difficulty recovers at GRH

‘Treatment might have caused ₹1.5 cr. at private hospitals’

08/01/2020, STAFF REPORTER,MADURAI

A two-and-a-half-year-old boy, who was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, the rapid onset of muscle weakness and paralysis caused by affected immune system, and was under artificial ventilation for seven months at Government Rajaji Hospital, had recovered completely, said doctors.

Addressing the media on Tuesday, hospital Dean J. Sangumani said the boy was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome and was admitted to the Department of Paediatrics eight months ago.

“A viral infection had weakened the immune system and caused neurological disorder, which resulted in paralysis of muscles. The boy had also developed breathing difficulties because of the syndrome,” he said.

Hence, the child was treated under artificial ventilation for seven months.

“During the period, he was treated with antibiotics and it took seven months for the recovery of the muscles,” said Head of the Department of Paediatrics S. Balasankar.

Mr. Sangumani said the syndrome was not a rare condition and that every month around three patients got admitted to the hospital with the condition.

“This is one of the rarest cases as the patient had received artificial ventilation for a long period and recovered completely,” he said.

The treatment for the condition might have caused around ₹1.5 crore at private hospitals.

But, the patient was treated for free at the GRH under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme, he added.

Bury the past and return to the varsity, JNU V-C tells students

08/01/2020, PRESS TRUST OF INDIA ,NEW DELHI

M. Jagadesh Kumar

Under fire from students and faculty members for not doing enough when they were brutally attacked by a masked mob on the campus, Jawaharlal Nehru University Vice-Chancellor M. Jagadesh Kumar on Tuesday urged students to put the past behind and return to the campus.

In a brief statement, Mr. Kumar said, “Our heart goes out to all injured students. The incident [violence] is unfortunate. I would like to tell students that JNU campus is a secure place.

“I urge all students to come back to the campus. Let us put the past behind.”

After the attack there has been a demand from several quarters, including the students and faculty members, for his resignation. Later interacting with reporters, he said the campus had its own security.

“If there is a law and order situation we do not rush to the police immediately. We see if our security can handle it.

“The campus has its own security. On Sunday, when we saw that there is a possibility of aggressive behaviour among students, we informed the police,” he said.

The police have also come under flak for reaching after the mob had dispersed after running amok.

Hearing of hanging date, convict breaks down

Three others imprisoned in 2012 gang rape case remained impassive, says Tihar jail officer

08/01/2020, SAURABH TRIVEDI ,NEW DELHI

(Clockwise from top left) Akshay Singh, Pawan Gupta, Vinay Sharma and Mukesh.

After a Delhi court on Tuesday issued death warrants against all four convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya case, one of them broke down while the rest remained impassive when the judge announced the execution date, said a senior officer with the Tihar jail.

The convicts, who were produced before the court through video conferencing, will be hanged at 7 a.m. on January 22.

On hearing the verdict, Pawan, 25, who was in a separate cell, broke down, while Mukesh, 32, Vinay Sharma, 26, and Akshay Singh, 31, who were together at the time, didn’t react, the officer said.

Three of the convicts are lodged in jail no. 2, while Pawan is in jail no. 4.

Condemned cell

“As per procedure, the convicts have to be moved to separate condemned cell. They will be put under round-the-clock surveillance and their health will be monitored daily,” the officer said.

Director-General (Tihar) Sandeep Goyal said the prison had received the judgment copy and death warrants.

On Tuesday, the court was hearing the applications moved by Nirbhaya’s parents and the prosecution (Delhi government), seeking issuance of the death warrants.

Pawan from Meerut, who is likely to carry out the execution after a hangman in the Lucknow jail fell ill, said he would be relieved after the hanging.

“It will give a message to all those who disrespect women,” he said.

The jail authorities will approach him with the task on Wednesday.

“We had earlier written to the prison authorities of Uttar Pradesh, seeking the service of the hangman. Now that the death warrants have been issued, we will be writing to them again for the same,” the officer said.

V.P. Pandey, Superintendent of Meerut prison, said he had not received any letter for sending Mr. Pawan for the execution.

Gallows ready

“We will inform the family members of the convicts and their last meeting will be arranged in Tihar. Four gallows are ready and the rope ordered from Buxar jail has already reached Tihar,” an officer said.

All convicts will be hanged together, the officer added.

SC to hear pleas challenging Delhi HC order on ultrasonography
It mandated six months’ training to perform the procedure

08/01/2020, LEGAL CORRESPONDENT,NEW DELHI

The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear, in detail, pleas challenging a Delhi High Court decision removing the mandatory six-month training required under law for performing ultrasonography.

A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Sharad A. Bobde scheduled the case for hearing on April 8.

In March 2018, the Supreme Court had passed an interim order staying the operation of the High Court’s February 17, 2016 order. The SC had said prima facie, the HC verdict transgressed into an area of legislative policy.

“The Training Rules 2014 were made by the Central government in exercise of the power conferred by Parliament. Prima facie, the Rules are neither ultra vires the parent legislation nor do they suffer from manifest arbitrariness,” the court had observed in its interim order.

The Supreme court had also observed that the High Court had “squarely impinged” on its November 2016 judgment in the Voluntary Health Association of Punjab case, which called for the strict implementation of the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) (Six Months Training) Rules, 2014, to bring to an end the social evil of female foeticide.

Governor’s reference to ‘dual citizenship’ triggers a debate
There is no sanction in the Constitution, say experts

08/01/2020, T. RAMAKRISHNAN

Governor Banwarilal Purohit’s address on the first day of the Assembly session on Monday.R. RaguR. Ragu

Governor Banwarilal Purohit’s address to the Assembly on Monday, in which he advocated dual citizenship for Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka living in Tamil Nadu, has triggered a debate on the advisability of such a proposal.

According to Prof. V. Suryanarayan, founding Director of the Centre for South and Southeast Asian Studies, University of Madras, the Governor could have avoided the reference in his customary address. Prof. Suryanarayan, who has been studying the subject for years, points out that there is no sanction in the country’s Constitution for dual citizenship. The Centre may never agree to the idea, he feels.

It is for the first time that the matter was included in the Governor’s address, even though it was floated by former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in April 2016 during her campaign for the Assembly elections. But, the issue did not figure in the address of Governor K. Rosaiah in June 2016 to the Assembly, despite Jayalalithaa retaining power. However, it was included in the memorandum submitted by Jayalalithaa to Prime Minister Narendra Modi around the same time.

The rationale behind the demand is to help the refugees get employment or run businesses in the country “without any hindrance.” Since then, the issue has been raised by her successors, O. Panneerselvam and Edappadi K. Palaniswami.

In the light of recent criticism by the Opposition on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act excluding from its ambit the Sri Lankan Tamil refugees, Mr. Palaniswami raised the issue during his meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah.

To substantiate his position that the Governor should have avoided the reference, Prof. Suryanarayan recalls instances wherein Governors of other States did not toe fully with the text of what their State governments had prepared. To illustrate a few cases, in March 1969, the then West Bengal Governor Dharma Vira skipped portions of the address to the Assembly. In January 2018, Kerala Governor P. Sathasivam left out certain portions of his address which, he felt, used a strong language used against the Central government.

Naturalisation option

However, the academician strongly supports the idea of giving Indian citizenship to refugees who prefer it. He suggests: “If the Central government withdraws its instruction to the State government — issued first in 1983 and reiterated in 2007 — not to entertain applications for citizenship from the refugees, a large number of willing refugees will be eligible to apply for citizenship, under the option of naturalisation.” Differing with him, former Madras High Court judge K. Chandru, says Governors can communicate objections to the governments if they feel certain references are not proper. However, once the text is approved finally, there is not much choice left for them.

Asked whether it is proper on the Governor’s part to refer to a matter, which falls exclusively under the domain of the Union government, Mr Chandru says that even on foreign policy or matters of international implications, the Tamil Nadu Assembly in the past adopted resolutions, some of which got included in the Governor’s addresses too. Recently, the Kerala Assembly adopted a resolution, calling upon the Centre to repeal the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.

Two prominent jurists, wishing to remain anonymous, say there is nothing wrong in such a reference, as such an address reflects “aspirations” of the State government. After all, the demand for dual citizenship is “only a recommendation” of the government, they add.

4 Nirbhaya case convicts to be hanged on Jan. 22

Court issues death warrants on a plea by victim’s parents

08/01/2020, SOIBAM ROCKY SINGH,NEW DELHI

All four convicts in the December 16, 2012, Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case will be hanged on January 22 at 7 a.m. inside Tihar jail, a Delhi court ordered on Tuesday.

Additional sessions judge Satish Kumar Arora issued the death warrants for convicts Mukesh, Vinay Sharma, Akshay Kumar Singh and Pawan Gupta on a plea by the victim’s parents to expedite their execution.

Before passing the order, the judge conducted a video conference call with the convicts, who are lodged in Tihar, to hear their side of the argument.

The victim’s mother, who was present in the court when the verdict was pronounced, said the decision would restore faith of women in the judiciary.

On December 18 last, the Supreme Court dismissed a review petition filed by convict Akshay Kumar Singh against its 2017 judgment upholding his death penalty.

In July 2018, the top court dismissed the review petitions of Mukesh, 30, Gupta, 23, and Sharma, 24, saying no grounds have been made by them for a review of the 2017 verdict.

A juvenile convict in the case has been released from a reformation home after serving a three-year term. One of the accused in the case, Ram Singh, died earlier in Tihar Jail.

Panel gives green signal to 150 pvt trains on 100 routes

Dipak Dash & Sidhartha TNN

New Delhi:08.01.2020

A high-powered panel has cleared the road for rolling out nearly 150 private trains on 100 routes, including Mumbai-Delhi and Howrah-Delhi sectors, which will compete with Rajdhani.

While two Tejas trains have been handed over for running by Railways-controlled IRCTC on the Delhi-Lucknow and Mumbai-Ahmedabad routes as an experiment with the “private sector”, the committee’s report is expected to pave the way for a massive competition to the services currently being offered by the state transporter.

The panel was set up by railway minister Piyush Goyal after Railway Board chairman VK Yadav flagged private trains in the government’s 100 days’ agenda.

The recommendations put out for stakeholder consultations have proposed that Indian as well as global players, with experience in railway or travel and tourism sectors be permitted, provided they have a minimum net worth of ₹450 crore. Other performance parameters, such as a maximumpermissible 15-minute delay, beyond which passengers will have to be compensated, have been proposed. On the IRCTCoperated Tejas trains, a similar facility has been offered.

The routes have been divided into seven clusters with a clear plan to develop infrastructure in less-utilised stations such as Panvel near Mumbai and Tilak Bridge and Okhla in Delhi for running long-distance trains.

The train routes have been primarily identified on Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Kolkata routes as the railways is hopeful of freeing up tracks by December 2021, when both Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridors will become fully operational and take over the burden of handling goods traffic. The railways has also approved the plan to improve the existing tracks on these two routes to allow trains to run at 160 kmph, which has been proposed as the speed limit for private trains.

Full report on www.toi.in

Interim relief for Tamil University VC as HC stays order

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Madurai:08.01.2020

A division bench of the Madras high court has granted an interim stay on a single-judge order which set aside a government order (GO) that appointed G Balasubramanian as the vice-chancellor (VC) of Tamil University at Thanjavur.

Balasubramaniam, in his petition stated that he was appointed as the VC of the university on October 5, 2018. A candidate K Ravindran who applied for the post of VC filed a petition before the high court Madurai bench challenging the GO on ground that he did not possess the required qualification in conducting not less than one international level event as per clause 5 of the eligibility criteria.

Balasubramaniam stated that Ravindran also raised another ground that the senate nominee and syndicate nominee of the search committee who were holding positions earlier in the university are ineligible to be members of the search committee as per provisions of the UGC regulation and as per Section 12 of the Tamil University Act, 1982. He said that the single judge had allowed the petition and quashed the GO appointing him as VC on December 20, 2019, citing that the senate and syndicate nominee of the search committee were earlier holding positions as syndicate member and VC of the university by misinterpreting Section 12 (2) of the Act.

NEONATAL HEALTH
TN TAKES A GIANT LEAP IN OFFERING BETTER NEONATAL HEALTHCARE

More Babies Are Being Saved In TN Than Earlier Due To Institutional Interventions

Pushpa.Narayan@timesgroup.com

08.01.2020

Nano babies weighing less than half a kg and sumo babies weighing a little more than 5kg are not uncommon in neonatal units of Tamil Nadu. What is uncommon is how the state’s healthcare infrastructure is helping fragile newborns recover and get back home safe and sound.

While risks such as low birth weight, preterm births, high risk delivery and infections have risen due to a combination of factors including poor lifestyle, more babies born in the state are now able to survive, said several neonatologists.

The infant mortality rate – number of child deaths per 1,000 live births – in Tamil Nadu has been on a steady decline. Tamil Nadu recorded the second lowest IMR in the country in 2017 with 16 deaths per 1,000 live births. Kerala registered the lowest, 10. The number of underweight babies being brought in for intensive care in the state has gone up both in private and government tertiary care units.

“More babies are being saved in TN now than earlier,” said director of public health Dr K Kolandaswamy. But it wasn’t long before some districts in Tamil Nadu reported higher number of infant deaths owing to inadequate human resources and healthcare infrastructure. There weren’t enough doctors or trained nurses, transport facility for babies or adequate number of intensive care units, said Dr Kolandaswamy, who is also the registrar of births and deaths in the state.

While most private hospitals have managed to set up facilities with advanced equipment in bigger cities like Chennai and Coimbatore, the state administration has taken intensive care to the rural areas by establishing 73 neonatal care units. These units provide intensive care for newborns in medical colleges, district headquarters and subtaluk hospitals. Each of these intensive care units have at least four paediatricians. “Unlike many other states, 65% of deliveries in TN take place in government hospitals and almost 98% of deliveries are institutionalised. Enhancing care in government hospitals would mean keeping out-of-pocket expenditure low,” said K Senthil Raj, director of National Health Mission (Tamil Nadu).

In 2018, the state had 1.11 lakh admissions to its neonatal units, of which 6,000 infants had died, a 1% decline in deaths from what the state-run units saw in 2017, said Dr S Srinivasan, coordinator, State Nodal Centre-National Rural Health Mission. “This year, the mortality has dipped further,” he said.

To match what Kerala has achieved, the state has to push itself further to monitor every pregnancy, identify high risk groups and ensure early care. The state has taken some pro-active steps including protocols to tag high risk pregnant women. Every pregnant woman is registered with the state government. Those visiting government hospitals are categorised as red (high risk), yellow (moderate risk) and green (safe). Those in high risk category are advised to deliver only at a government-run tertiary care centre.

Apart from state-led institutional interventions, doctors said the health of the mother needs to be improved too in order to achieve low infant mortality levels. Increase in hyperte4nsion, gestational diabetes and anaemia among women are some of the leading factors for pre-term births and conditions such as birth asphyxia. As part of maternity benefits, women living below the poverty line are being given protein supplements, multi-vitamin syrups and dry fruits in two trimesters. These supplements help boost haemoglobin levels in the blood. Doctors said at least a quarter of pregnant women have anaemia, and an equal number of them have pregnancy-related diabetes.

“These can impact the health of a child. Earlier, we used to see the average underweight baby was around 2kg, now it’s between 900gm and 1,200gm,” said Dr Rahul Yadav, a neonatologist at Rainbow Childrens’ Hospital. It may not be easy to save them, but with resources that Tamil Nadu has built in neonatal childcare, saving them is no more a tall order.



Unlike many other states, 65% of deliveries in Tamil Nadu take place in government hospitals and almost 98% of deliveries are institutionalised

K Senthil Raj | DIRECTOR, NATIONAL HEALTH MISSION, TAMIL NADU

Madras univ students continue to protest
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:08.01.2020

More than 50 students of University of Madras and its affiliated colleges protested for the second consecutive day on Tuesday demanding the arrest of perpetrators of attack on students and faculty members of Jawaharlal Nehru University.

They also demanded the withdrawal of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and urged the Centre not to undertake the National Population Register (NPR) and the National Register of Citizen (NRC).

“First, the students of Jamia Milia and Aligarh Muslim University were attacked and now, JNU students were targeted. If these attacks are allowed to continue, any protesting student could become a target. The Union government should immediately arrest the perpetrators,” a student said.

Expressing solidarity with JNU, students from IIT Madras, University of Madras and Presidency College had protested on Monday. Students, academics and activists also held a candle light vigil.

2.65kg gold worth ₹1.10cr seized at city airport

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:08.01.2020

Customs officials seized 2.65kg gold worth ₹1.10 crore from six passengers at Chennai airport on Monday night and Tuesday.

On Monday night, Ashaff Ali Khan, 51, of Sri Lanka, who arrived from Colombo by a Sri-Lankan Airlines flight (UL123), and Mohamed Azarudeen, 21, and Kalandar Abbas, 36, of Ramanathapuram, who arrived from Colombo on an IndiGo flight (6E 1204), were intercepted and questioned. Ten bundles containing gold in paste form were recovered from them.

On Tuesday morning, Mohamed Ramzeen, 51, of Sri Lanka, and Thajilamin,41, of Ramanathapuram, who arrived from Colombo by a SriLankan Airlines flight (UL125) were intercepted and questioned. Seven bundles containing gold paste were recovered.

In another case on Tuesday, Nagoor Gani, 22, of Chennai, who arrived from Sharjah on an Air India flight (AI 968), was intercepted. Two gold cut bits weighing 60g were recovered from his pants pockets. Three bundles of gold paste were hidden in his rectum.

MBA holder who won local polls dies as truck hits bike
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:08.01.2020

A 27-year-old MBA graduate, who was elected a ward member of Mela Muthalambedu village panchayat near Gummidipoondi at the local body election, died in an accident on Sunday before he could take charge in his new role.

P Arun Pandian’s organs were harvested as per his parent’s request. He was an MBA holder and also had a Bachelor in Law degree. He was practising law in the Tiruvallur court. He had contested at the village panchayat and won the election in ward number 2 of the Mela Muthalambedu panchayat. He had celebrated his victory with his family members and the villagers on January 2.

On Friday, Arun had travelled to Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh to write his entrance exam to study Masters in Law. At Arambakkam near the Tamil Nadu border, a truck hit his two-wheeler from behind, police said. He was taken to the Government Hospital in Tada and was later transferred to Rajiv Gandhi Government hospital in Chennai. On Sunday, he succumbed to injuries. Arun had donated his organs at the age of 18. After getting approval from his mother Lakshmi, the doctors of the Rajiv Gandhi Government hospital removed his organs and preserved them in thestorage bank.

Rajiv case: HC grants 15 days leave to convict Ravichandran

TNN | Jan 7, 2020, 04.00 AM IST

Madurai: Ravichandran, a life convict in the former Prime Minister (PM) Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, has been granted 15 days ordinary leave by the Madras high court from January 10. P Rajeswari of Aruppukottai taluk in Virudhunagar district, mother of Ravinchandran in her petition had stated that her son, who was awarded life sentence in the case had completed nearly 28 years of imprisonment.

Though she had submitted several representations and moved the high court seeking leave for her son, it was not granted. Recently, she moved the high court, which on October 15, directed the state to consider her representation within three weeks. Subsequently, the superintendent of Madurai Central Prison passed an order on November 13 rejecting her claim on the ground that Virudhunagar superintendent of police had submitted a report stating that there was a possibility of life threat to her son and it would not be possible for the police to provide escort as police selection process and local body elections were to be announced. Hence, Rajeswari moved the high court Madurai bench seeking to grant one-month ordinary leave to Ravichandran to enable him settle the family after his release.

When the petition was taken up for hearing on Monday, the petitioner’s counsel submitted that recently ordinary leave was also granted to few other convicts in the case including Nalini Sriharan, Perarivalan and the same could also be extended to Ravichandran.

The additional advocate general K Chellapandian submitted that since more than 20 police officials are required for the convict’s escort and the same would not be possible due to the intervening local body elections, the representation seeking ordinary leave was rejected. He further submitted that the state would consider the ordinary leave plea after Pongal festival.

Taking note of the submissions, a division bench of justice T Raja and justice B Pugalendhi observed that the convict had been earlier granted ordinary leave five times since 2001 - four times based on the order of the high court and once based on the order of the prison authorities to attend the final rites of his father.

The judges observed that on all five occasions when ordinary leave was granted, the life convict had surrendered before prison authorities without causing any inconvenience. They further observed that the state in its counter had mentioned that his leave application had been rejected due to local body elections and it would not be able to provide sufficient protection for the convict.

The judges observed that even though the local body elections were completed, the government’s contention that it would consider the ordinary leave plea after Pongal festival is not acceptable. Hence, the judges granted 15 days leave to Ravichandran and observed, “Let him spend time with his family on this Pongal.” The judges directed him to surrender before the prison authorities after the completion of 15 days ordinary leave. The matter has been posted to January 28 for reporting compliance.

HC stays single judge order against Tamil univ VC posting

TNN | Jan 8, 2020, 04.00 AM IST

Madurai: A division bench of the Madras high court has granted interim stay on a single judge order which set aside a government order (GO) that appointed G Balasubramanian as the vice-chancellor (VC) of Tamil University at Thanjavur.

Balasubramaniam, in his petition stated that he was appointed as the VC of the university on October 5, 2018. A candidate K Ravindran who applied for the post of VC filed a petition before the high court Madurai bench challenging the GO on ground that he did not possess the required qualification in conducting not less than one international level event as per clause 5 of the eligibility criteria.

Balasubramaniam stated that Ravindran also raised another ground that the senate nominee and syndicate nominee of the search committee who were holding positions earlier in the university are ineligible to be members of the search committee as per provisions of the UGC regulation and as per Section 12 of the Tamil University Act, 1982.

He said that the single judge had allowed the petition and quashed the GO appointing him as VC on December 20, 2019, citing that the senate and syndicate nominee of the search committee were earlier holding positions as syndicate member and VC of the university by misinterpreting Section 12 (2) of the Act.

The appellant submitted that Section 12 of the Act states that “The person nominated shall not be a member of any of the authorities of the university or shall not be connected with the university or any college or any recognised institution of the university.” He cited that the word ‘shall be’ only denotes ‘at present’. He further submitted that the senate and syndicate nominees of the search committee are no way connected with the university at present.

He noted that though Ravindran was well aware of the earlier positions held by the search committee members, he submitted his application before the same committee and merely because he was not selected, he cannot question the constitution of the search committee.

Hence, the appellant filed an appeal before the high court Madurai bench seeking to grant interim stay on the single judge order. When the appeal was heard on Tuesday, a division bench of justice M Duraiswamy and justice T Ravindran granted interim stay and adjourned the case to January 10 for further hearing.

Disabled man petitions collector alleging bias in MBBS admission

TNN | Jan 8, 2020, 04.15 AM IST

Madurai: After more than two years of ongoing court battle over being denied an opportunity to write the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) exam, a differently-abled man has now petitioned the district collector Dr T G Vinay seeking his help.

Arunkumar G, 27, from Villapuram wrote the NEET exam in 2018 and secured above the cut-off mark for the differently-abled persons quota. However, he was not given a chance in counselling that year despite being declared fit and issued a certificate of disability by the regional medical board in Chennai. Arunkumar had lost three of his fingers, including his thumb, after being injured during an accident in 2008. After his complaint to the director of medical education (DME) did not receive any reply, the 27-year-old took the matter to court. “As it was argued that my fitness certificate was only valid for 2018, the court ordered me to appear before a panel of doctors from the regional medical board, Chennai again in 2019. They declared me fit. However, I was not called for counselling that year also. I felt betrayed and filed for contempt of court,” said Arunkumar.

During the hearing of the case, the defendant’s advocates argued that since the differently-abled man had written the NEET exam only in 2018, he cannot be called for counselling in 2019 just on the basis of the fitness certificate.

On Monday, he petitioned the district collector alleging wrongful discrimination against differently-abled persons on the basis of physical appearance when it comes to providing jobs and education of their choice and driving licence, which is basic for commuting. “It is very common for such discrimination to happen. Despite availability of quotas, rarely do people from our community get a job that is equal to their educational qualification and paid on a par with those without disability,” said S Raja, district secretary, differently-abled welfare association.

Arunkumar has a diploma in medical laboratory technology from Madurai Medical College. “I’m able to handle equipment and I cleared both theory and practical exams during my course. However, wherever I go, I’m being denied jobs just because of my missing fingers.”

Tamils in Australia share woes as bushfire smothers nation

TNN | Jan 7, 2020, 04.23 AM IST

CHENNAI: Most Tamils living in Australia are among those most affected by the bushfire as they live in Sydney and Melbourne. The continent is home to about one lakh Tamil migrants, of whom 50% are from Tamil Nadu. The rest are from Sri Lanka.

G Kiruthiga from Chennai, who is residing in western Sydney, about 100km from the epicentre of bushfire, said carbon emissions were bad.

“I can still feel the smoke and have breathing difficulties. We would airdry clothes in the balcony and find black powdery specks on them the next day,” she said. The Indian community is assisting with relief work, she added.

According to media reports, the deadly southern-summer fires have destroyed more than eight million hectares of bushland in Australia, killing at least 24 people. The disaster has also taken a heavy toll on wildlife, charring thousands of birds and animals to death.

Anagan Babu, president of Tamil Arts and Culture Association in Australia, said Tamils largely reside in Sydney and Melbourne.

“This is the largest drought that the residents of Sydney have faced in the past two decades. Water is being rationed and restricted for domestic use,” he told TOI from Sydney on Monday. Soaring temperatures breached new record due to the inferno last week, he added.

The devastating bushfire has also taken a heavy toll on tourism sector, with a section of city residents who had plans to tour Australia putting it off. Manish Kriplani of Outbound Tour Operators Association of India, said approximately 50,000 tourists from South India fly to Australia every year.

“Those planning to travel to Australia in the next two to three weeks have cancelled their trips following the bushfire. However, we are bullish that the development will not hit the upcoming season starting from May,” he added.

Tourism is an important sector for Australia. “In fact, Australian authorities went ahead with the annual fireworks event on the eve of New Year despite protests as the event in Sydney draws international tourists, generating 130 million Australian dollars revenue,” Anagan Babu said.

Tourism industry sources said people are looking for alternate destinations. Chairman of tourism sub committee of Travel Agents Association of India, Sriharan Balan, said European destinations such as Georgia and Hungary are being suggested as alternate destinations to those who have already explored northern Europe and the US.

Horizontal quotas are defeating purpose of reservation, says Madras high court

TNN | Jan 7, 2020, 04.57 AM IST

CHENNAI: Madras high court has observed that horizontal reservations such as disability, destitute women, ex-servicemen and for persons whose land were acquired for public propose are causing a lot of confusion in public employment.

Cautioning that they may defeat the very purpose of vertical, caste-based reservation in public employment, Justice N Anand Venkatesh said: “This list (horizontal reservation) keeps increasing day by day and at a particular point of time, this will virtually eclipse the rights of the persons who will be otherwise entitled under the vertical reservation.”

The judge was passing the orders after denying reservation for persons whose land had been acquired for a public purpose. Holding that the ‘priority certificate’ issued to such land-losers is not a constitutional right, Justice Anand Venkatesh dismissed a plea seeking preferential recruitment by Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB).

A petitioner, R Abdulkadhar, cited a December 18, 1978 order which added one more horizontal reservation for the members of the family whose lands had been acquired by government for a public purpose. Such persons were issued priority certificates to claim such reservation. While all recruitments for government service provided such a reservation, it was been denied in a recent TRB recruitment, he alleged.

Justice Venkatesh said: “The government thought it fit to create such a reservation only to ensure that persons whose lands have been acquired and who lost their livelihood by virtue of such acquisition must be given some preference. This cannot be mechanically applied in all cases, since, the persons whose lands are acquired are paid compensation.”

“The petitioner cannot insist that TRB must necessarily provide for the reservation for persons having priority certificate. This is not some constitutional right guaranteed for the candidates. It is always left open to the recruiter concerned depending upon the nature of post. They cannot be compelled to provide reservation for all the heads under the horizontal reservation in every recruitment,” Justice Anand Venkatesh said.

Chennai: Velachery quack held for sex determination test

TNN | Jan 7, 2020, 06.16 AM IST

CHENNAI: A quack who revealed sex of fetus to at least 500 women in the last one year was arrested and his clinic, Chennai Scan Centre, in Velachery was sealed on Monday. The ultrasound machine he was using in the clinic was also sealed.

Health department officials who raided the scan centre said the quack, K Sivasankaran, with an MSc in zoology, had been operating the clinic since 2014. “We were able to pull out only 500 reports, but he scanned at least 10 women daily,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police Thomas Prabhakaran. The health department received complaints about the illegal clinic recently from a network of doctors and patient groups in the area.

On Monday, officials from the Directorate of Medical Services sent a woman, who was five months pregnant, as a decoy. The department trains volunteers to work as decoys to trap doctors and quacks resorting to sex determination and sex selective abortion, which are prohibited by the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994. After the scan on the decoy, Sivasankaran told her she was carrying a male child and charged her ₹1,200.

Health officials led by joint director Dr A Vishwanathan conducted further inquires. His ultra sound machine was not registered with the nodal agency and his scan centre was not registered as per the TN Clinical Establishment Act. “He told us that ever since a radiologist quit the centre in 2014, he has been doing the scans. The entire operation has been videotaped and will be produced in court as evidence,” said vigilance team superintendent M Kamalakannan. Although the team has been cracking down on illegal clinics and quacks through the year, this is the first time in the last three years the team has been able to crack down on a clinic in Chennai.

Since 2016, the overall sex ratio at birth in the state has gone up from 932 (girls born for every 1,000 boys) in 2016 to 933 in 2018 and 936 until October 19. Chennai and Kancheepuram along with seven other districts such as Ramanathapuram, Tiruvallur and Ariyalur, recorded a fall between 35 and 48 points. Chennai, which had a sex ratio at birth of 960 in 2018 recorded a 23 point drop to 937 till October 2019. Kancheepuram also recorded a 14 point fall in the last one year. Joint director Vishwanathan said human intervention plays a huge role in tilting the sex ratio at birth. Sivasankaran was arrested by J7 police station for violation of the PCPNDT Act, for practising medicine without medical degree, cheating and impersonation.

Can’t release Rajiv Gandhi killers: Centre to Madras HC

TNN | Jan 8, 2020, 04.08 AM IST

CHENNAI: The Centre on Tuesday informed the Madras high court that the Tamil Nadu government’s proposal to release seven life convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, including Nalini Sriharan, has been rejected by it in April 2018 since it would lead to “international ramifications”.

Additional solicitor general G Rajagopalan made the submission on behalf of the home ministry on the plea moved by Nalini seeking to declare her detention as illegal since the governor had failed to act upon the recommendation of the state cabinet to release the seven convicts.

Recording the submissions, a division bench of Justice R Subbiah and Justice R Pongiyappan impleaded the Union home ministry as party respondent and directed it to file a counter by January 28.

In the rejection order produced by the solicitor general, the home ministry had stated: ‘The case involves assassination of a former prime minister of the country who was brutally killed in pursuance of diabolical plot carefully conceived and executed by a highly organised foreign terrorist organisation. Sixteen innocent lives were lost and many sustained grievous injuries in the gruesome, inhuman, uncivilised, and merciless bomb blast which was successfully enacted with active help and participation of these convicts and others who were LTTE militants or its staunch supporters.”

“The CBI has opposed the state government’s proposal to release the convicts in the interest of justice. The case has been reviewed, scrutinised by various forums of the judiciary and executive and both the highest judicial forum as well as the executive forum has elevated the case and decided the matter. Releasing the four foreign nationals who had committed the gruesome murder of former PM in connivance with three Indian nationals will set a very dangerous precedent and lead to international ramifications by other such criminals in the future,” the order said.

Senior docs to be given honorary posts

TNN | Jan 8, 2020, 04.57 AM IST

Chennai: The directorate of medical education is planning to appoint ‘honorary’ professors who will mentor doctors, perform state-of-the art surgeries and offer guidance to medical college students. These professors are mostly retired government doctors or renowned medical professionals who have served in the private sector in India or abroad and are below the age of 70.
Deans of government medical colleges across the state have asked heads of departments to give their opinion about the need for honorary professors. “The idea is to have experts on campus to help patients and guide doctors,” said director of medical education Dr R Narayana Babu. Doctors retire from service at the age of 58 compared to 65 in the central government services. “They have an abundance of experience and they can really help our patients,” he said.

For instance, a city medical college hospital has stopped doing sex reassignment surgeries after one of the senior surgeons retired. “Getting that professor back into college will benefit a lot of patients. More doctors will also get themselves trained so they can continue doing the surgery,” Dr Narayana Babu said. Deans have also been asked to look out for retired professors with administrative skills for managing activities to acquire and maintain NABH accreditation.

These doctors will not be on government rolls or enjoy benefits such as provident fund or health insurance. “They will not be paid a salary, they will be given a designation of honorary professor,” he said. Health department is yet to decide if they should pay an honorarium.

Senior doctors say the concept of honorary professors isn’t entirely new. In the early 80s, many colleges had professors who were not on government rolls. “They all came to the hospital for surgery, did their routine rounds and took classes for student. These professors did not have to adhere to working hours, many of them came even on Sundays. In those days, holding a honorary position in a government hospital was a matter of pride,” said Kilpauk Medical College dean Dr Vasanthamani P. “Many senior doctors including corporate hospital owners joined and retired as honorary professors,” she said.

So far, the state has a signed memorandum of understanding with doctors in the private sector to conduct high-end surgeries. For instance, liver transplant surgeon Dr Mohamed Rela and his team visits Stanley Medical College to conduct liver transplant surgeries, while senior cardiologist Dr AB Gopalmurugan conducts high-end cardiac procedures at the Government Multi-Specialty Hospital in Omanduarar. “If this proposal is cleared, we will have more such experts to inspire our students,” Dr Narayana Babu said.

16,000 Pongal special buses to operate from city to clear extra rush

TNN | Jan 8, 2020, 04.59 AM IST

Chennai: The state transport department will operate more than 16,000 buses from various locations in Chennai to tackle the holiday rush during Pongal week.

Around 10,000 special buses will operate in other districts from January 12 to 14, said transport minister M R Vijayabhaskar. “More than eight lakh passengers are expected to travel during this time as it has a long weekend,” he added.

As many as 17 ticket reservation counters will be opened at Koyambedu Chennai Moffusil Bus Terminus (CMBT), Tambaram MEPZ and Poonamalle Bus Stand. Tickets can also be booked online on www.tnstc.in or on apps such as RedBus, Paytm, Make My Trip and BusIndia. All passengers will get a text with information about the boarding point and time, and travel duration.

Temporary bus stands will be set-up at different locations in the city for smooth operation of special buses.

Buses taking passengers to Thanjavur and Kumbakonam via Vikravandi, Panruti will depart from the temporary bus stand at Tambaram.

Poonamalle bus stand will be the origin for buses going to Hosur, Arcot, Vellore, Kancheepuram and Cuddalore, and Chidambaram buses (via Puducherry) will depart from KK Nagar bus stop.

Buses to Andhra Pradesh will leave from Madhavaram. Only south-bound buses will depart from CMBT.

“Temporary traffic diversions, introduced four years ago, will be followed this year too. Also, to avoid chaos at toll plazas, one lane has been earmarked only for special buses,” Vijayabhaskar added.

Madras University to hire faculty after 5 years

TNN | Jan 8, 2020, 06.37 AM IST

CHENNAI: After a gap of five years, University of Madras has called for applications to fill 30 teaching positions, including six professors and 18 assistant professors, in its departments.

Two years ago, the government had imposed the ban to get other universities in the state to absorb excess staff from Annamalai university, but they have been reluctant because of doubts about their qualifications. Last year, the ban stayed in place after the UGC directed states to freeze recruitment in view of the case in the SC on whether the reservation policy should apply to hiring for an institution as a whole or to separate departments. Recently, the state government lifted the ban on recruitment.

The university is on the verge of losing UGC's grant and special assistance because of vacancies in faculty positions. "Many departments in the university get aid from the central government, but UGC rules prescribe a minimum faculty strength. So, these posts are being filled on priority basis," a senior professor from the university said.

Death of TN woman due to cotton wad left in abdomen: SHRC issues notice

TNN | Jan 7, 2020, 08.31 PM IST

CUDDALORE: The State Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports about the death of a woman due to an infection caused by a cotton wad left in her abdomen by doctors in Vriddhachalam Government Hospital in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu.

The commission issued a notice on Tuesday to Cuddalore district joint director (medical services) P N Ramesh Babu directing him to submit a detailed report within two weeks. The report should also have details of action taken against the erring officials.

The commission said it would list the case after two weeks and directed the joint director to submit the report by post without fail. The commission warned that it would initiate appropriate action as it deems fit and proper if he failed to submit a report.

R Priya, wife of V Rajkumar, 26, from a village near Vriddhachalam died due to an infection caused by a cotton wad left in her abdomen by doctors in Vriddhachalam Government Hospital.

Police said Priya developed labour pain on December 27 and was rushed to hospital. Doctors performed a Caesarean section the same night, and she gave birth to a girl.

Priya, however, complained of a severe stomach pain post-surgery. On December 31, after she took seriously ill, doctors referred her to Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer) in Puducherry.

A team of doctors in Jipmer suspected that she might be suffering from severe sepsis, a serious condition due to the presence of foreign particles in the body and the body’s response to it. The team performed surgery in the abdomen (laparotomy) and found a mass of inflated tissues filled with pus. The team removed the pus and found a foreign body (cotton wad) in her abdomen. She died on January 1.

JOSHI-ABHYANKAR MURDER CASE
Four students who turned serial killers executed same day in 1983

Gang’s Run Had Created Fear, Panic In Pune In Mid-70s

Vishwas Kothari, Manjiri Damle & Asseem Shaikh | TNN

08.01.2020

Pune: The hanging of as many as four convicts on death row in one day has happened only once in the country after Independence — in Pune on October 25, 1983.

Rajendra Jakkal, Dilip Sutar, Shantaram Jagtap and Munawar Shah — the first three from Abhinav Kala Mahavidyalaya in the city and Shah a friend of theirs studying in a commerce college — were hanged at the Yerawada central jail for the murder of 10 people in the mid-1970s.

The impending execution of the four convicts in the Nirbhaya case would be the second instance of as many hangings on the same day in one case.

The Pune gang killed three members of the Joshi family at their Vijaynagar colony home and five members of the Abhyankar family at their bungalow on Bhandarkar road. They also killed two youths in separate incidents.

The killings, which came to be known as the Joshi-Abhyankar serial murders, remain one of the most intriguing sagas in the annals of crime  in Pune, then a sleepy pensioner’s paradise.

Old-timer Punekars recall the murders as much for the heinous manner in which they were committed as also for the deep panic, fear and helplessness that had gripped them in those days.

“People would simply desert the streets after 6 pm,” recalls former assistant commissioner of police Balkrishna Agashe. “Except for policemen blowing their whistles and the sound of patrolling boots, a cloak of silence would hang over the city.”

“Like most Punekars, we used to be tense every new moon night as all the murders were committed on those days,” recalls Subhash Pawar, who used to teach advertising and graphic design at the Abhinav Kala Mahavidyalaya.

“The four were well-behaved and polite. We never suspected that they had criminal tendencies. We were shocked to read in the newspapers about their involvement,” recalls Pawar.

“There were times when people would keep night-long vigils. On days like new moon nights, scared citizens would keep calling the police control room seeking reassurance,” said another old-timer.

The killing of noted Sanskrit scholar Kashinath Shastri Abhyankar, then 88, and four others at his bungalow had come as a shock to Pandit Vasant Gadgil. The 90-year-old Gadgil told TOI, “The entire state was angry over the murders. Shastri was my guru. I felt helpless and realised no one was truly safe.”

The killings had left Pune police baffled for over a year and had put their investigative skills to the test. Then police chief VV Chaubal had constituted a special team under assistant commissioner of police Madhusudhan Hulyalkar and inspector Manikrao Damame, both now deceased.

As the police probe later revealed, the gang employed a peculiar modus operandi of stripping some of their victims naked and using a nylon rope with a particular knot to strangle them to death.

Noted Sanskrit scholar Kashinath Shastri Abhyankar, his wife, two grandchildren and their maid were killed by the gang at their bungalow, ‘Smruti’, on Bhandarkar Road on December 1, 1976

Nirbhaya rapist-murderers to hang at 7am on Jan 22: Court

‘Enough Time Given To Exhaust Legal Remedies’

Aamir.Khan2@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:08.01.2020

The 2012 Nirbhaya rape and murder case finally moved towards closure when a city court on Tuesday ordered the hanging of the four death row convicts at 7am on January 22, saying they had been given “sufficient time and opportunity” to exhaust their legal remedies.

The order to execute the death sentence of the convicts—Mukesh Singh, Vinay Sharma, Pawan Gupta and Akshay Thakur—comes six years after another trial court had sentenced them to death.

Nirbhaya’s mother had filed a plea in Delhi’s Patiala House courts, through her advocates, seeking death warrants against the four convicts on December 13, 2018.

In his order, additional sessions judge Satish Kumar Arora observed that the convicts had either exhausted their remedies or hadn’t exercised some of them despite being given sufficient time and opportunity. “In these facts and circumstances, when reasonable time and opportunity has been afforded to them, there is nothing to delay passing of orders on the applications seeking issuance of death warrants,” held the court.

During the hearing, the lawyers appearing for the convicts sought time to file curative petitions before opting for a mercy plea. The lawyersamicus curiae Vrinda Grover appearing for Mukesh and Vinay, and A P Singh for Pawan and Akshay—submitted they were in the process of filing curative petitions. They, therefore, sought time to exhaust this remedy before a mercy plea. Grover submitted that documents required to be relied upon for filing of a curative plea were yet to be supplied to her by the jail authorities.

The submissions were opposed by the lawyers appearing for the victim’s mother and special prosecutors Rajiv Mohan and Irfan Ahmed.

Copy of death warrants to be sent to Tihar

They said that there was nothing pending before any court and the execution of death warrants could be ordered. The prosecutors submitted that all the four convicts could keep exercising their legal rights even after an order to that effect had been passed.

It also came on record that after the last hearing on December 18, 2019, the Tihar jail authorities had informed the convicts about the remedy of filing a mercy petition. This notice, however, was objected to by the convicts on the ground that they still had the remedy of filing a curative petition before the SC.

A status of their legal remedies till now showed that the review petitions of all convicts had been dismissed.

Judge Arora noted that it was “apparent” that the convicts had already been extended sufficient time and opportunity to exhaust legal remedies. And as a result, the court disposed of the plea of Nirbhaya’s mother and that of the state seeking issuance of the death warrants. “Copy of this order with the death warrants to be sent to the Tihar jail superintendent,” it said.

வன்முறைக்களமாகும் பல்கலைக்கழகங்கள்!

By வ.மு. முரளி | Published on : 07th January 2020 02:48 AM

கடந்த 2019ஆம் ஆண்டு, நமது பல்கலைக்கழகங்களுக்கு போதாத காலமாக அமைந்திருந்தது என்றே சொல்லலாம். அரசியல் சதிராடிய காரணத்தால் பல்வேறு பல்கலைக்கழகங்களில் அமைதியின்மை கோலோச்சி, நமது உயர் கல்வித் துறைக்கு பெரும் களங்கத்தை ஏற்படுத்தியது.

குறிப்பாக, தலைநகர் தில்லியிலுள்ள ஜவாஹர்லால் நேரு பல்கலைக்கழகம் சர்ச்சைகளின் மையமாகவே மாறிவிட்டது. இடதுசாரி மாணவர் சங்கங்களும் ஆசிரியர் சங்கங்களும் வலுவாக உள்ள இந்தப் பல்கலைக்கழகம் பாஜக ஆட்சிக்கு வந்ததிலிருந்தே அமைதியிழந்து காணப்படுகிறது. இதனைக் கட்டுப்படுத்த மத்திய அரசு பல முயற்சிகளை மேற்கொள்வதும் அதற்கு மாணவர்கள் தரப்பில் கடும் எதிர்ப்புக் கிளம்புவதும் வாடிக்கையாக இருந்து வருகிறது. இந்தப் பல்கலைக்கழகத்தின் துணைவேந்தராக ஜெகதீஷ்குமார் 2016 ஜனவரியில் பொறுப்பேற்றபோது கடும் எதிர்ப்பைச் சந்தித்தார். அதன் பிறகு அரசுடன் மாணவர்களின் மோதல் தொடர்ந்து, 2019-இல் உச்சத்தைத் தொட்டது.

ஜேஎன்யு பல்கலைக்கழக விடுதிகளில் தங்கியிருந்த மாணவர்கள் அல்லாதவர்களை வெளியேற்ற துணைவேந்தர் கொண்டுவந்த கட்டுப்பாடுகள், விதிமுறைகளை எதிர்த்தும், உயர்த்தப்பட்ட விடுதிக் கட்டணங்களை மறுபரிசீலனை செய்யக் கோரியும் மாணவர்கள் தொடர் போராட்டங்களில் ஈடுபட்டனர். கடந்த 2019 நவ. 11-இல் பல்கலைக்கழகம் சார்பில் ஏஐசிடிஇ வளாகத்தில் நடைபெற்ற பட்டமளிப்பு விழாவின்போது மத்திய மனிதவள மேம்பாட்டுத் துறை அமைச்சர் ரமேஷ் பொக்ரியால் நிஷாங்கை சுமார் 6 மணிநேரம் முற்றுகையிட்டு சிறைப் பிடித்தனர் மாணவர்கள்.

இந்தப் போராட்டங்களின்போது பல்கலைக்கழக வளாகத்திலிருந்த சுவாமி விவேகானந்தர் சிலை அவமதிக்கப்பட்டது. பல்கலைக்கழகச் சுவர்களில் எழுதப்பட்ட மோசமான வாசகங்கள், நாம் பயிற்றுவிக்கும் கல்வி மாணவர்களைப் பண்படுத்துகிறதா, பாழ்படுத்துகிறதா என்ற அச்சத்தை ஏற்படுத்துவதாக அமைந்தன.

குடியுரிமை திருத்தச் சட்டத்துக்கு எதிராக தில்லியிலுள்ள ஜாமியா மிலியா பல்கலைக்கழக மாணவர்கள் டிச.15-இல் நடத்திய போராட்டம் வன்முறை வடிவெடுத்ததால், பல்கலைக்கழகத்துக்குள் காவல் துறையினர் நுழைந்து மாணவர்களைத் தாக்கினர். இந்தச் சம்பவம் நாடு முழுவதும் எதிர்ப்பலைகளை உருவாக்கி, மத்திய அரசுக்கு எதிராக மாணவர்களின் போராட்டம் வலுக்கக் காரணமானது.

ஆனால், பல்கலைக்கழக வளாகத்திலிருந்து காவல் துறையினர் மீது நடத்தப்பட்ட தாக்குதல் குறித்து யாரும் கவலைப்பட்டதாகத் தெரியவில்லை. இந்தக் கலவரத்தின்போது 14 பேருந்துகளும் 20 தனியார் வாகனங்களும் எரிக்கப்பட்டன; 31 காவலர்கள் உள்பட 70 பேர் பலத்த காயம் அடைந்தனர். இந்த வன்முறை தொடர்பாக காவல் துறையினரால் கைது செய்யப்பட்ட 10 பேர் மாணவர்களே அல்லர் என்பது தெரியவந்தது.

உ.பி. மாநிலத்திலுள்ள அலிகர் முஸ்லிம் பல்கலைக்கழகமும் குடியுரிமை திருத்தச் சட்டத்துக்கு எதிராக வன்முறைக்களமாக மாறியது. டிச. 15-இல் நடந்த வன்முறையால் பெருமளவு பொதுச் சொத்துகள் சேதப்படுத்தப்பட்டன. இங்கு, மாணவர்கள் ஆயிரம் பேர் மீது வன்முறை வழக்கு பாய்ந்துள்ளது.
மேற்கு வங்க மாநிலத்திலுள்ள ஜாதவ்பூரில் நடந்த நிகழ்வுகள் மிகவும் வெட்கக்கேடானவை. அங்கு மாநிலத்தை ஆளும் முதல்வர் மம்தா பானர்ஜிக்கும் ஆளுநர் ஜகதீப் தன்கருக்கும் ஆரம்பத்திலிருந்தே மோதல் போக்கு நிலவி வருகிறது. இதன் காரணமாக கல்வித் துறையிலும் இந்த மோதலின் மோசமான விளைவுகள் தென்படுகின்றன.

ஜாதவ்பூர் பல்கலைக்கழகத்தில் டிச. 24-ஆம் தேதி நடைபெற்ற பட்டமளிப்பு விழாவுக்குச் சென்ற பல்கலைக்கழக வேந்தரும் மாநில ஆளுநருமான ஜகதீப் தன்கர், விழாவில் கலந்துகொள்ள விடாமல் தடுக்கப்பட்டார். திரிணமூல் காங்கிரஸ் ஆதரவுள்ள பல்கலைக்கழகப் பணியாளர் சங்கத்தினர் ஆளுநரை முற்றுகையிட்டு, பட்டமளிப்பு விழா அரங்கினுள் செல்லவிடாமல் தடுத்தனர். விழாவில் கலந்துகொள்ளாமல் ஆளுநர் திரும்பினார்.

மேற்கண்ட நிகழ்வுகள் சில எடுத்துக்காட்டுகள் மட்டுமே. நாடு முழுவதிலும் உள்ள பெரும்பாலான பல்கலைக்கழகங்களிலும் உயர் கல்வி ஆராய்ச்சி மையங்களிலும் வெறுப்பு அரசியல் பெருகி வருகிறது. இது கல்வியின் உயர்வுக்கு வழிவகுக்காது. பல்கலைக்கழகங்களில் அரசியல் ஆதிக்கத்தை வெளிப்படுத்தத் துடிக்கும் சில கட்சிகளுக்கும், உயர்கல்வி நிலையங்களைத் தன் பிடிக்குள் கொண்டுவர முயற்சிக்கும் மத்திய அரசுக்கும் இடையிலான பலப்பரீட்சை மைதானமாகக் கல்விக்கூடங்கள் மாறி வருகின்றன.

இந்த நிலையில், ஜவாஹர்லால் நேரு பல்கலைக்கழகத்தில் ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமையன்று இரு தரப்பு மாணவர்களிடையே நடைபெற்ற மோதல் மிகவும் மோசமான சூழலில் நமது கல்வி நிறுவனங்கள் இருப்பதை வெளிப்படுத்தியுள்ளது. இந்த மோதலின்போது முகமூடி அணிந்த கும்பல் தாக்கியதில் 40க்கும் மேற்பட்டோர் காயமடைந்துள்ளனர். தேர்வுக்குப் பதிவு செய்யச் சென்ற மாணவர்களும் தாக்கப்பட்டுள்ளனர்; அலுவலகக் கணினிகள் சேதப்படுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளன. இந்த மோதல் குறித்து இருதரப்பு மாணவர்களும் பரஸ்பரம் புகார் கூறுகின்றனர். ஆனால், கல்வி நிலையத்தில் வன்முறை கோலோச்சுவதை யாராலும் நியாயப்படுத்த முடியாது.

கல்வி என்பது மானுட வளர்ச்சியின் அடையாளமாக இருக்க வேண்டும். குறைந்தபட்ச நாகரிகம்கூட அற்றவர்களாக, வன்முறையில் நாட்டமுள்ளவர்களாக மாணவர்களை மாற்றுவது நல்லதல்ல என்பதை இப்போதேனும் அரசியல் கட்சிகள் உணர வேண்டும். கல்வி நிலையங்களை விட்டு அரசியல் தலையீடு வெளியேற வேண்டும். 

"சிறந்த குணத்தை உருவாக்குகின்ற, மன வலிமையை வளர்க்கின்ற, அறிவை விரியச் செய்கின்ற, ஒருவனை சொந்தக்காலில் நிற்கச் செய்கின்ற கல்வியே தேவை; மனிதனைப் பண்படுத்தி அவனை பரிபூரண நிலைக்கு இட்டுச் செல்வதே கல்வி' என்ற சுவாமி விவேகானந்தரின் கருத்தைத்தான் இங்கே நினைவுபடுத்த வேண்டி இருக்கிறது.

வைகுந்த ஏகாதசி விழாவைப் புறக்கணித்த காஞ்சிபுரம் அறநிலையத்துறை அதிகாரிகள்

By DIN | Published on : 06th January 2020 11:42 PM

அஷ்டபுஜப் பெருமாள் கோயிலில் சொா்க்கவாசல் வழியாக உள்ளே செல்ல முயன்ற பக்தா்களை சமாளிக்க முடியாமல் திணறிய போலீஸாா்.

காஞ்சிபுரத்தில் திங்கள்கிழமை நடைபெற்ற சொா்க்க வாசல் திறப்பு விழாவின் போது கோயில் நிா்வாக அதிகாரிகளை போலீஸாா் கோயிலுக்குள் அனுமதிக்க மறுத்ததால், இருதரப்பினருக்கும் இடையே வாக்குவாதம் ஏற்பட்டு அறநிலையத்துறை அதிகாரிகள் விழாவைப் புறக்கணித்து கோயிலை விட்டு வெளியேறினா்.

காஞ்சிபுரம் அஷ்டபுஜப்பெருமாள் கோயிலில் திங்கள்கிழமை அதிகாலையில் சொா்க்கவாசல் திறப்பு நடைபெற இருந்த நேரத்தில், குமரகோட்டம் சுப்பிரமணிய சுவாமி கோயில் நிா்வாக அதிகாரி ந.தியாகராஜன் கோயிலுக்குள் செல்ல முயன்றாா்.

அப்போது அங்கு பாதுகாப்புப் பணியில் ஈடுபட்டிருந்த காவலா் ஒருவா் அவரை கோயிலுக்குள் செல்ல அனுமதிக்கவில்லை.

நான் சென்றுதான் சொா்க்கவாசல் கதவைத் திறக்க வேண்டும் என்று சொல்லியும் அவா் அனுமதிக்கப்படவில்லை. பின்னா் கூட்ட நெரிசலில் சிக்கி மிகவும் சிரமப்பட்டு கோயிலுக்குள் வந்து சோ்ந்தாா்.

இதையடுத்து, இந்து சமய அறநிலையத்துறை உதவி ஆணையா் கி.ரேணுகாதேவி கோயிலுக்கு வந்தபோது கோயில் நிா்வாக அதிகாரிகளான ஆ.குமரன், வெள்ளைச்சாமி, ந.தியாகராஜன் ஆகிய மூவரும் அவரை பாதுகாப்புடன் கோயிலுக்குள் அழைத்துச் செல்ல முயன்றனா்.

அப்போது போலீஸாா், அதிகாரிகள் 3 பேரையும் கோயிலுக்குள் செல்ல அனுமதிக்காததால் போலீஸாருக்கும், அதிகாரிகளுக்கும் இடையே வாக்குவாதம் மற்றும் தள்ளு முள்ளு ஏற்பட்டது.

இதனால் அதிருப்தியடைந்த கோயில் நிா்வாக அதிகாரிகள் மற்றும் இந்து சமய அறநிலையத் துறை அதிகாரிகள் விழாவைப் புறக்கணித்து கோயிலிலிருந்து வெளிநடப்பு செய்தனா். பின்னா் காவல்துறை உயா் அதிகாரிகள் அவா்களை சமாதானம் செய்தனா்.

நீட் தோ்வு: 16 லட்சம் போ் விண்ணப்பம்

By DIN | Published on : 07th January 2020 05:20 AM |

எம்பிபிஎஸ், பிடிஎஸ் உள்ளிட்ட இளநிலை மருத்துவப் படிப்புகளுக்கான தேசிய தகுதிகாண் நுழைவுத் தோ்வுக்கு (நீட்) நாடு முழுவதும் 16 லட்சம் போ் விண்ணப்பித்திருப்பதாகத் தகவல்கள் தெரிவிக்கின்றன.

தமிழகத்தில் மட்டும் ஒன்றரை லட்சம் விண்ணப்பங்கள் சமா்ப்பிக்கப்பட்டிருப்பதாகத் தெரிகிறது.

அரசு மற்றும் தனியாா் மருத்துவக் கல்லூரிகளில் உள்ள எம்பிபிஎஸ், பிடிஎஸ், சித்தா, ஆயுா்வேதம், யுனானி, ஹோமியோபதி உள்ளிட்ட இளநிலைப் படிப்புகளுக்கான நீட் தோ்வு மே மாதம் 3-ம் தேதி நடைபெறுகிறது. அதற்கான விண்ணப்பப் பதிவு கடந்த டிசம்பா் 2-ஆம் தேதி தொடங்கியது. நீட்டிக்கப்பட்ட காலஅவகாசம் திங்கள்கிழமை நிறைவடைந்தது.

கடந்த ஆண்டைப் பொருத்தவரை, மொத்தம் 14 லட்சத்துக்கும் மேற்பட்டோா் நீட் தோ்வினை எழுதியிருந்தனா். தமிழகத்தைப் பொருத்தவரை மொத்தம் 1.23 லட்சம் போ் தோ்வெழுதியிருந்தனா். அவா்களில் 59,785 போ் தோ்ச்சி பெற்றனா்.

தமிழ், ஆங்கிலம், ஹிந்தி, தெலுங்கு, கன்னடம், குஜராத்தி, மராத்தி, ஒடியா, அஸ்ஸாமி, வங்கம், உருது ஆகிய 11 மொழிகளில் நீட் தோ்வுகள் நடைபெற்றது நினைவுகூரத்தக்கது.

18 arrested in Thanjavur for locking stores run by people of 'other states'
According to sources, on Sunday morning, a sweets and savories shop at RR Nagar near the New Bus stand, a hotel, and two granite tiles sales depot at the new bus stand were found locked.

Published: 06th January 2020 08:12 PM

By Express News Service

THANJAVUR: Police arrested 18 members of the Tamizh Desiya Katchi for allegedly locking down commercial establishments run by people from other states in Thanjavur and Pattukkottai.

According to sources, on Sunday morning, a sweets and savories shop at RR Nagar near the New Bus stand, a hotel, and two granite tiles sales depot at the new bus stand were found locked. Also, the posters by the party pasted on the shops demanded North Indians to get out of Tamil Nadu. It alleged that due to the influx of people from other states, the locals were deprived of job opportunities.

Similarly in Pattukkottai town, five shops located on the stretch from Thalayari street to Aranthangi mukkam which were run by people from other states (particularly from Rajasthan) were found locked and posters pasted.

Following these incidents, members of Vanigar Sangangalin Peravai, led by State-Vice President Punniyamurthy and the affected shop owners, lodged a complaint with the Thanjavur Medical College Police. Based on it, the police registered cases and arrested five persons - R Tamil Nesan (46) State President of Tamil Desiya Katchi, I Senthilkumar (37) of Nanthavanapatti, L Kumar (35) of Budalur, A Premkumar (22) of Sengippatti and P Sabapathy (26) of Orathanadu.

The police arrested 13 more people, including D Karthikeyan (32) of Pappanadu, district in-charge of Tamil Desiya Katchi. All the suspects were booked under Sections 341 (Punishment for wrongful restraint), 153 (Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 153A(1)(a)(promotes or attempts to promote disharmony on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste or community or any other ground whatsoever, disharmony) of the Indian Penal code.

‘Priority certificate alone does not guarantee right for job preference’

On Monday, the Madras High Court held that having a priority certificate alone would not guarantee a constitutional right for preference in government jobs.

Published: 07th January 2020 05:38 AM |

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The government issues priority certificates to candidates seeking jobs under certain quotas -- such as those whose lands have been acquired for government projects, destitute women, and ex-servicemen among others. However, often, it’s not easy securing a job despite having such a certificate.

On Monday, the Madras High Court held that having a priority certificate alone would not guarantee a constitutional right for preference in government jobs. “It is always open to the authority concerned to decide on the reservations (horizontal reservation) that are given to them depending upon the nature of post,” justice N Anand Venkatesh observed.

He was dismissing a write petition filed by R Abdulkadar, whose land was acquired for a government project with the promise of giving him a government job, through a priority certificate. He had appealed to the court to pass a direction to the Teachers Recruitment Board, to consider him for a teacher’s post.

The judge noted that by GO dated December 18, 1978, the government had added one more reservation for the members of the families, whose lands were acquired by government. “The government thought it fit to create such a reservation only to ensure that the persons, whose lands had been acquired and who lost their livelihood by virtue of such acquisition, must be given some preference.”

“This cannot be mechanically applied in all cases, since, the persons whose lands are acquired are paid compensation by the government. Therefore, if the lands of a wealthy person is acquired, that does not mean that a member in that family, shall be given priority in public employment. This defeats the very concept of reservation in public employment,” the judge said. while adding that horizontal reservation was causing “a lot of confusion and chaos in public employment.”

Retired parents of married government staff entitled to medical reimbursement, says HC

The judge quashed an order dated April 25, 2019 of the Additional Chief Secretary for Finance (Salaries) disallowing his claim for reimbursement and directed him to re-consider Kathiravan’s claim.

Published: 07th January 2020 06:37 AM 

By Siva Sekaran

Express News Service

CHENNAI: In a significant judgment, the Madras High Court has held that retired and aged parents, more specifically sick parents of married government employees, are also eligible for reimbursement of medical expenses.

“Clause 4(iii) of the Medical Insurance Scheme, introduced in 2016, states that parents of the employee will also be covered only till the employee remains unmarried. If this clause is read literally, on the face of it, it would sound illegal and illogical. The parents of an employee will not cease to be parents after the marriage of the employee,” Justice N Anand Venkatesh observed on January 2 while allowing a writ petition from R Kathiravan, an Assistant Agricultural Officer.

The judge quashed an order dated April 25, 2019 of the Additional Chief Secretary for Finance (Salaries) disallowing his claim for reimbursement and directed him to re-consider Kathiravan’s claim. “After satisfying himself that his father is dependant on him, the authority should reimburse the medical expenses running to `5.7 lakh, due to Apollo Sepciality Hospital, within four weeks,” the judge said.

“The object of the Health Insurance Scheme introduced in 2016 is to help the employee tide over the crisis faced by him due to a sudden and emergent medical emergency. The government had thought it fit to appoint the United India Insurance Company Limited for the implementation of the scheme and for the disbursement of medical reimbursement. It becomes important to take note of annexure-I in a G.O. dated June 30, 2016. Under clause 4 of the annexure, ‘family members’ are defined. Clause 4(iii), if it is read literally, on the face of it, sounds illegal and illogical. Unfortunately, even though this society is moving towards a state where the parents are disregarded after marriage, this court does not expect the government to give a similar treatment for the parents of government employees, who get married,” the judge said.

“This clause cannot be read in isolation and it cannot be given a literal meaning, since it will end up with disturbing consequences. The only way to read this clause is that the parents will continue to be treated as family members till they continue to be the dependants of the government employee.

If this clause is not assigned this meaning, the poor parents will be left in lurch during the evening of their life,” the judge said.

Consider plea for Rs 1 cr compensation: HC

Chennai: A division bench of the Madras High Court has directed the State government to consider within four weeks a plea for compensation of `1 crore from father of young woman who was killed in a road accident after a banner fell on her at Pallikaranai in September last. The direction came after a petition by R Ravi, father of the deceased.

CBI probes transfer of ₹1,038.34 cr. to Hong Kong

48 firms, three persons and unknown officials of banks booked

07/01/2020, , DEVESH KUMAR PANDEY,NEW DELHI

The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case against 48 Chennai-based companies, three individuals and unknown officials of various banks for having allegedly transferred ₹1,038.34 crore in unaccounted cash to Hong Kong in 2014-15.

Bank accounts opened in the names of these companies were allegedly used to receive money from a large number of accounts in different parts of the country and divert it to the accounts of several firms in Hong Kong.

The three individuals have been identified as Mohammad Ibramsa Johny, a resident of Sivaganga and Zinta Midhar and Nizamuddin from Chennai.

The case is based on information received from a source about the transfer of black money through foreign remittances, mostly by residents of Chennai, in connivance with bank officials.

In all, 51 current accounts for the 48 firms were opened in four branches of the Bank of India, the Punjab National Bank and the State Bank of Mysore for transferring the funds, the FIR alleged. As many as 24 of these accounts were used for outward remittances in foreign currency — valued around ₹488.39 crore back then — on the pretext of advance payment for import of goods, while the other accounts were used for outward transfers totalling ₹550 crore, purportedly for foreign travel by Indian tourists. It is alleged that the companies had submitted identification papers and certificate of import-export codes issued in the name of 25 firms, of which only 10 had made imports in small quantities. The value of the imported goods was much lower than that which was declared in the invoices submitted by the companies to the banks concerned at the time of transferring the funds abroad.

The persons who facilitated the transactions were paid commissions, and bank officials were bribed. Most of the transactions were made in the second half of 2015. The annual turnover of the firms was shown in lakhs, while the funds sent abroad were in crores.

Rajini’sDarbar to release in 4,000 screens across India

The ₹200-crore Pongal release has tie-ups with 15 brands

07/01/2020, STAFF REPORTER ,CHENNAI

The film is expected to open big as it is releasing solo for the Pongal holidays between January 9 and 19. File Photo

Actor Rajinikanth’s next film, Darbar, directed by A.R. Murugadoss and releasing on January 9, will be screened in 4,000 screens in India alone, said R. Kannan, COO, Lyca Productions.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Kannan said that the film, rumoured to be made on a whopping ₹200-crore budget, is also scheduled to release in places where Tamil films have not released yet.

“The film will release in 7,000 screens across the world. We are planning to release it in a few islands to reach out to the maximum number of people,” he said.

“We are spending ₹7-8 crore to promote the film. The marketing investment for this film is one of the highest in Tamil cinema,” he said, adding that the trade is expecting a super hit.

Mr. Kannan said that around 15 brands such as SpiceJet, Cadbury’s, BookMyShow and Airtel have tied up with the film.

With recent films such as Karthi’s Thambi and Sivakarthikeyan’s Hero declared flops, exhibitors are expecting this film to bring audiences back to theatres. Udeep Reddy, managing director, Mayajaal, said that the film would eventually open big as it was releasing solo for the long Pongal holidays between January 9 and 19.

“It looks like the film will do well for everyone in the trade,” he said.

JNU students, staff want V-C removed

Blame game begins between ABVP and JNUSU over violence on the campus that left 34 injured

07/01/2020, STAFF REPORTER ,NEW DELHI

United in protest: JNU students staging a demonstration on the campus on Monday against the brutal attack by masked goons on Sunday night.R.V. Moorthy

The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) and the Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers Association (JNUTA) on Monday demanded the immediate removal of JNU Vice-Chancellor M. Jagadesh Kumar following the brutal attack by masked goons on the university campus on Sunday night.

Under fire for allowing the violence to continue, the Delhi police said an FIR had been registered against “unknown persons” for rioting and damage to property. No arrests have been made so far.

34 treated for injuries

Thirty-four persons injured in the attack, who were brought to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Sunday night, were discharged after treatment. One teacher was taken to Safdarjung Hospital and later discharged, an official said.

“Several students had broken limbs and head injuries. They were discharged after first aid,” said a senior official at the AIIMS.

“I was specifically targeted on Sunday during a peace march on the campus. Around 20-25 masked persons disrupted the march and attacked me with iron rods,” said JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh at a press conference, her arm in a cast and bandages on her head — she required at least 15 stitches following the attack.

The BJP’s student wing, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), denied it was behind Sunday’s attacks, as alleged by both the JNUSU and the JNUTA.

The outfit, in turn, blamed Ms. Ghosh’s left-wing union for orchestrating the violence. It also claimed that many of its activists were injured, but did not present any to the media.

The JNUSU and a number of faculty members have accused the Delhi police of being bystanders to the violence and allowing the attackers to leave the premises after going on the rampage for several hours.

‘A shameful episode’

“The violence that happened on Sunday is the result of the desperation and frustration of the V-C and his cronies. But the chronology of events that unfolded is a shameful episode for the Delhi police who gave a safe passage to ABVP goons imported from outside. For days now, the administration has been unable to break our protest. Since 4th January, ABVP people were directed as henchmen of the V-C to come and beat up students. They used lathis and pipes on that day,” JNUSU alleged in a statement.

In a separate development, the JNUTA has written an open letter to President Ram Nath Kovind on the connivance between the attackers and the JNU administration.

Singapore to be placed on destination wedding map for Indians

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:07.01.2020

Singapore Tourism is looking at attracting more visitors by promoting the island as a destination for weddings, cruises and overseas excursions this year.

G B Srithar, regional director, India, Middle East and South Asia of Singapore Tourism Board said, “We will focus on these elements to encourage more visitors. We used to promote school excursions years ago.” Destination weddings are becoming a thing among Indians, he said, adding, “We want people from Tamil Nadu to hold their weddings in Singapore.”

In a bid to promote educational institutions to take up excursions, Singapore tourism will encourage travel agents to offer incentives, he added. Singapore Tourism Board conducted a roadshow in the city where officials interacted with around 100 travel and tour operators.

“South India is an important region for us with direct flights available from nine cities, including Chennai, Trichy and Coimbatore,” he said.

Cruise tours are a great hit among Indians as they’ve hopped aboard cruises to the island most. “This makes it important for us. Indian cruise travellers are the youngest, with an average age of less that 30 years against the global average of 40. A good number of people who take cruise tours also stay in Singapore.”

Similarly, Indians top the number of tourists who visit Sentosa island, he added. India is number one source market for cruise tours and 1.6 lakh people have gone on cruises to Singapore in 2018.

Till October 2019, 1.19 million tourists from India visited Singapore.

Indians top the number of tourists who visit Sentosa island, he added. India is number one source market for cruise tours and 1.6 lakh people have gone on cruises to Singapore in 2018